To laugh is to risk appearing the fool. To weep is to risk
being called sentimental. To reach out to another is to risk
involvement. To expose feelings is to risk showing your true
self. To place your ideas and your dreams before a crowd is to
risk being called naive. To love is to risk not being loved in
return. To live is to risk dying. To hope is to risk dispair,
and to try is to risk failure. But risks must be taken, because
the greatest risk in life is to risk nothing. The person who
risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing, and
becomes nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he
simply cannot learn and feel and change and grow and love and
live. Chained by things that are certain, he is a slave. He has
forefeited his freedom. Only the person who risks is truly
free.
